In a recent interview, Juanita Oosthuizen, a talented paper artist and former occupational therapist, shared her creative journey from product designer to full-time artist. With a background in designing packaging for the wine and cosmetic industries, her artistic path took a pivotal turn about ten years ago after a visit to the Tate Modern in London. There, a small artwork of a tiny figure sweeping a pile of sand in a vast space inspired her to embrace her love for miniatures and storytelling.

Juanita’s intricate, 3D paper creations use tiny figurines to convey unique narratives, allowing viewers to interpret the stories in their own way. Her art is known for its incredible detail, which makes it challenging to capture in photos—truly best experienced in person.

Her fascination with chairs has been a major theme over the past five years, beginning with an ambitious paper weave of a chair reflecting in water. She has since experimented with a wide range of chairs, from large to miniature, crafted from diverse materials. This obsession led to a series of meticulously hand-cut paper chairs, and her iconic Vitra designer chair collection even won the prestigious Hermanus FynArts competition.

Juanita often uses a monochromatic palette—favoring black, white, and shades of grey, sometimes adding a pop of red. Recently, she ventured into color, drawing inspiration from Blue Delft porcelain for a series of paper weaves, which have become highly sought-after.

Her creative process is fueled by late-night inspiration, where she conceptualizes her next projects. Juanita’s work speaks to the timelessness of design, the storytelling power of art, and her dedication to crafting each piece with precision and heart. While her art has a strong online presence, she firmly believes in the importance of experiencing it firsthand.

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